Network-initiated communication establishment in a cellular system

ABSTRACT

Network-initated connection establishment employs base stations that affix a temporary identifier and a shared control channel index to a paging message. User equipment for which the paging message is intended responds with a paging acknowledgement. In response to the paging acknowledgement, the network establishes shared channel connectivity with the UE.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to establishing connectivity in a cellular communication system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wireless communication systems support a sleep mode to minimize battery power consumption of user equipment (UE), such as a mobile terminal. In sleep mode, the mobile terminal performs little or no activity, and does not transmit/receive traffic data. Therefore, the mobile terminal in sleep mode only consumes a small amount of radio link resources, if any. Consequently, a large number of users can simultaneously be supported in the system.

A mobile terminal can terminate sleep mode and connect to a Radio Access Network (RAN) of base stations (otherwise known as “Node B”s according to the 3GPP protocol) in two ways. If traffic needs to be transmitted from the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal may terminate the sleep mode by requesting a connection to the network. This is denoted a “mobile terminal initiated (originated) connection.” Otherwise, the network may request the mobile terminal to make a connection to the network. This is denoted a “network-initiated connection”. The procedure used for waking up the mobile terminal from the sleep mode in “network-initiated connection” employs paging.

Paging involves waking up the mobile terminal from the sleep state. After waking up, the mobile terminal reads the paging message(s) transmitted in a downlink paging channel(s). The mobile terminal either connects to the network or performs the task instructed by the network via the paging message(s).

Depending on the amount of activity and connectivity involved, the sleep mode can be categorized into two sub-modes as “idle (standby)” and “dormant”. In idle mode, the mobile terminal has no connection to the RAN; however, it is connected to the core network. In contrast, in the dormant state the mobile terminal is connected to the RAN. In order to assist mobility in sleep mode, the mobile terminal is registered in a registration area or “paging zone”. The mobile terminal informs the network of its location and status in the registration process. This enables efficient paging in case of network-initiated connection establishment. A registration area may be defined as a zone (e.g., one or more cells) respectively controlled by a base station (or Node-B) or a plurality of base stations (or Node-Bs). A registration area may be also be known as a “routing area”, “tracking area”, “location area”, or, for Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS) implementing 3G wireless communications, “UTRAN registration area (URA)”.

The mobile terminal performs a registration whenever the “registration area” is changed. In other words, whenever the cell the mobile terminal is camped on broadcasts a “registration area” identity which is different from the registration area that the mobile terminal previously registered, then the mobile terminal should perform a registration update. Here, it is assumed each cell broadcasts only one “registration area” identity. However, the registration area may be defined to include overlapping zones. In that case, the cell would broadcast multiple registration area IDs.

In the conventional paging procedure, two signals are used to convey the paging message. The first paging signal is used to indicate whether a paging message is being transmitted to a particular UE or group of UEs. The second paging signal carries the paging message(s) for the particular UE or group of UEs. The second paging signal is transmitted following the first paging signal at a fixed time offset from the first paging signal.

The mobile terminal uses Discontinuous Reception (DRX) in sleep mode in order to reduce power consumption. When DRX is used, the mobile terminal needs to monitor the first paging signal only at one paging occasion per DRX cycle. The length of the DRX cycle is core network domain specific and may be updated locally in the mobile terminal using information given in system information from the core network.

The core network usually knows when the mobile terminal will be monitoring the first paging signal within DRX cycle. Thus, if the network intends to page a particular mobile terminal, it sends the first paging signal at the time when the mobile terminal will monitor the paging channel. If the mobile terminal does not receive any paging in the first paging signal, it goes back to the sleep mode. Otherwise, the mobile terminal reads the second paging signal.

The network may page the mobile terminal to establish a network originated call or to trigger reading of updated system information. In response to the paging message, the mobile may establish a connection with the RAN (if the mobile terminal is in an “idle” state), or update the mobile terminal location using a cell update procedure (if the mobile terminal is in a “dormant” state).

Upon receipt of the paging response, the RAN knows the location of the mobile terminal at the cell level. Thus, the radio resources can efficiently be allocated to the mobile terminal for the call.

In the conventional system, the connection establishment and cell update response to a paging message (network-initiated connection) follow the same procedures as when the connection establishment/cell update is performed in response to a “terminal initiated connection”. In the latter case, the establishment cause is not known to the network until a connection request message is received by the mobile terminal. Therefore, the network can manage the connection setup only after receiving the initial connection request from the mobile terminal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the case of a network-initiated connection, before the network pages the mobile terminal it knows the cause for connection establishment, and also the terminal context, to some extent, because the terminal is connected to the core network even when it is in the idle state. Therefore, the information known at the network may be used to optimize (speed up) connection establishment between the mobile terminal and the RAN.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a network-initiated connection establishment procedure which uses the information known at the network to speed up the connection between the mobile terminal and RAN. The invention uses a paging procedure to inform the mobile terminal of a network-initiated connection. The paging message is designed to support fast connection establishment over a shared channel.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of establishing a network-initiated connection between a mobile terminal User Equipment (UE) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) in which (1) the network (e.g., an aGW) initiates the connection by transmitting a paging message to the Node Bs in the UE registered tracking area, and (2) the Node Bs (belonging to the tracking area) receive the paging message and affix the paging message with a cell-specific radio network temporary identity (c-RNTI) and index(es) to one or a set of shared control channels (SCCHs). The c-RNTI and SCCHs are selected from the available c-RNTIs and SCCHs for the cell. The selection of c-RNTI and SCCH may be managed by the scheduler at the Node B, the core network (e.g., the aGW), or a separate radio resource manager (RRM) server.

The complete message is broadcast in the cell. The recipient UE may use the c-RNTI as a temporary cell-specific identity, and the SCCH as the associated shared control channel for shared channel operation. If the message is intended for the UE then it sends a paging acknowledgement message in the uplink. The message may be sent over a contention-based uplink channel (e.g. RACH) or a dedicated physical channel.

Upon the network's receipt of the paging acknowledgment from the UE, a shared channel connection is established between the UE and the network. After establishment of the shared channel connection, signalling and traffic data is transmitted over scheduled shared channel resources.

The paging message may be conveyed to the UE using: (1) paging indicators mapped onto a paging indicator channel (PICH), and the paging message mapped onto separate paging channels (PCH), (2) paging indicators mapped onto a shared control channel (SCCH) and the paging message mapped onto separate paging channels (PCH); or (3) paging indicators mapped onto a shared control channel (SCCH) and the paging message mapped onto a downlink shared transport channel (SCH).

The paging acknowledgment message may be transmitted along with an uplink (UL) synchronization message over a contention-based random access channel, or as a separate paging acknowledgment message over such a channel.

The selection of c-RNTI and SCCH (to be attached to the paging message) may be managed by the Node B. The Node B selects an unused c-RNTI and one or a set of SCCHs, and signals these to the UE with the paging message. The paging message broadcast in different cells may have different c-RNTIs and SCCHs.

Alternatively, the selection of c-RNTI and SCCH may be managed by the aGW or a separate RRM server, in which case the c-RNTI and SCCH may be selected as cell-specific so that each Node B sends a paging message using different c-RNTIs and SCCHs. The c-RNTI and SCCH may alternatively be tracking-area specific, so that each Node B in the tracking area sends paging messages including the same c-RNTI and SCCH.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a cellular communication system according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates network-initiated connection establishment according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of signaling flow according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the format of a paging signal broadcast in a cell according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the format of a paging signal broadcast in a cell according to embodiments of the invention where dedicated access resources are signalled to the UE.

FIG. 6 illustrates resources available for allocation according to embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate three different ways in which a paging message may be mapped according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates the format of a paging acknowledgement including uplink synchronization according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates the paging messages broadcast in different cells having different c-RNTIs and SCCHs, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates the paging messages broadcast in different cell having the same c-RNTI and SCCH in all cells within a tracking area, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates signalling flow in idle mode according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention enable the RAN to perform network-initiated (originated) connection establishment over shared transport channels (SCHs). The SCHs are associated with a set of physical Shared Control Channels (SCCHs). Specific information required by the UE for correct transmission/reception over the SCHs is conveyed from RAN to UE over the SCCHs. For downlink, this information may specify the resources to be used for the downlink transmission, and information regarding the formatting of the data to enable its correct reception at the UE. For the uplink, the information might again specify which transmission resources are to be used along with other shared channel grant information (power allocation, etc.). In both cases, the terminal to which the shared channel grant is directed is identified on the shared channel based on a RAN (or cell) Specific Temporary Identification (c-RNTI), which is signalled to the UE by the RAN within the SCCH itself.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a cellular communication system according to embodiments of the invention. The network includes a user equipment (UE) domain, a radio access network (RAN) domain, and a core network domain. The UE domain includes user equipment 110 that communicate with at least one base station 112 in the RAN domain via a wireless interface. The RAN domain may also include a network controller (e.g., radio network controller) (not shown), such as that used in UMTS systems. Alternatively, such funcationality may be distributed between the Node Bs and the aGW or other controller in the core network. FIG. 1 also illustrates an optional radio resource manager (RRM) 114. As described below, the RRM may perform functions otherwise performed by the Node Bs or aGW in some embodiments.

The core network (CN) 116 includes, in this example, an access gateway (aGW) 118, a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) 120, and a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) 122. The core network is coupled to an external network 124. The SGSN 120 is responsible for session control, including keeping track of the location of the UEs. The GGSN 122 concentrates and tunnels user data within the core network 116 to the ultimate destination (e.g., an Internet service provider) in the external network 124. Further details may be found in the 3GPP UMTS technical specifications, such as TS23.246 v6.4.0 “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS); Architecture and Functional Description (Release 6),” published by the 3GPP Support Office, 650 Route des Lucioles—Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne—FRANCE, which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates network-initiated connection establishment according to embodiments of the invention. A network controller (e.g., an access gateway 118 in a core network) sends a paging message to the Node Bs 112 in the registration area to be broadcast in the cells. Before the paging message is broadcast in each cell, the Node B attaches a c-RNTI and SCCH index to the message. The c-RNTI and SCCH is selected from the available c-RNTIs and SCCHs in the cell and may, in some embodiments, be managed by a scheduler at the Node B. The corresponding UE 110 (the UE to which paging is indicated) uses this c-RNTI and SCCH index for data transmission over shared channels.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of signaling flow in an embodiment of the network-initiated connection establishment procedure. The network sends a paging message to the UE via the Node Bs to initiate a connection. First, the core network (or, more particularly in some embodiments, the access gate way within the core network) transmits the paging message to the relevant Node Bs in the registration area. After receiving the paging message from the core network, each Node B selects a c-RNTI and SCCH index (in one embodiment), and forms the paging signal to be broadcast in the corresponding cell. Thus the paging signal broadcast in the cell includes the paging message (cause, UE identity) from the core network, c-RNTI and the SCCH index (see FIG. 4). The UE identity may be expressed by the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or temporary mobile subcriber identity (TMSI), which are known in the 3G standard. The recipient UE may use this c-RNTI as the cell-specific identity and the SCCH as the associated shared control channel for the shared channel operation:

After decoding the paging message, the UE sends a paging acknowledgement message to the Node Bs in the RAN. The message may be combined with uplink synchronisation information and transmitted over a contention-based uplink channel (such as a random access channel (RACH)).

Due to possible UE collision on the contention-based uplink channel, the paging acknowledgement message may experience some delay. This can be avoided by allocating dedicated physical access resources for the transmission of the paging response message. If this is used, then the allocated physical access resources for the uplink transmission (paging response) may be signalled to the UE together with the paging message. Thus the paging signal may take the format shown in FIG. 5.

The dedicated access resources may be a subset of resources allocated for access channels (see FIG. 6). However, these resources may be reserved for allocation by the network, in contrast to selection by the UE in a normal contention-based RACH operation. The same message format is used for both the RACH channel and the dedicated access channel. The information on random access resources (RACH channels) is broadcast over a broadcast control channel (BCCH), whereas the channel information for the dedicated access channels is not broadcast in the cell. This information is transmitted to the UE together with the paging signal according to one embodiment of the invention.

Upon receipt of the paging acknowledgment from the UE, a shared channel connection is established between the RAN and the UE, and signalling and traffic data will be transmitted over scheduled shared channel resources.

Mapping of Paging Message

In some embodiments, two-stage paging is employed. Referring to FIGS. 7-9, paging signal 1 wakes up a group of UEs to read the paging message(s), which are transmitted in paging signal 2. Three different implementations of two-stage paging are described herein.

Implementation 1

A paging signal 1 is mapped onto a separate physical channel, such as a paging indicator channel (PICH). A group of UEs wake up and read the PICH channel at a paging occasion calculated based on the DRX cycle and IMSI (used herein as an example of a UE identifier known by the core network). If a paging indicator is set to true, the UEs corresponding to the paging indicator read the paging message transmitted in paging signal 2.

The paging signal 2 may be mapped to separate paging channels (PCH). From the IMSI, the UE may calculate which paging channel to read, and read the paging message within the paging channel carrying the UE's IMSI. The system may use one PICH and a set of PCHs to enable paging for multiple UEs at a given paging occasion (see FIG. 7).

Implementation 2

In another embodiment, the paging signal 1 may be mapped onto SCCH. In this case a group ID or an ID specified for paging (paging ID) can be used in an ID field of SCCH. The paging indicators may be mapped to an SCCH information field (FIG. 8). Note that the channel format of SCCH (used for paging signal 1) is different from that used in the “normal” shared channel operation.

The paging signal 2 is transmitted over the paging channel (PCH). In this case, the UEs wake up from sleep mode as defined by the DRX cycle and IMSI, and read the SCCH for paging indicators. The location of a paging indicator within a paging signal 1 may be calculated based on the IMSI. If only one SCCH is used for paging indicators, a predefined paging ID may be used to inform the UE that paging signal 1 is a paging indicator-specific message. Otherwise, several SCCH may be used.

The UE corresponding to the same paging occasion may be assigned to a group, and each group is assigned a group ID. The user group ID may be located in the identity field in SCCH. The UEs belonging to the user group defined by the user group ID read the SCCH corresponding to the UEs' user group for their paging indicators. If the corresponding paging indicator is set to true, then the UE reads the paging signal 2, which is transmitted over the PCH and defined by the UE's IMSI. From the IMSI, the UE calculates which paging channel to read, and reads the paging message within the paging channel carrying the UE's IMSI. The system may use one or a set of SCCHs and one or a set of PCHs to enable paging for multiple UEs at a given paging occasion.

Implementation 3

This implementation uses SCCH and SCH to transmit paging signals. In addition, the same channel format as used in the normal shared channel operation is employed. Each UE learns which SCCH to monitor based upon either system information broadcast to the UEs, or because the SCCH index is preprogrammed in the UE pursuant to the applicable standard. The UEs listen to the appropriate SCCH for paging indicators at their paging occasion calculated based on DRX cycle and IMSI. The UEs with the same paging occasion are divided into groups based on the IMSI. Each group is given a user group ID, as indicated in the SCCH ID field. The message part of SCCH indicates the resources allocated for a corresponding SCH channel, which carries the paging message(s) (paging signal 2). If the UE belongs to the user group indicated in the SCCH ID field, the UE reads the allocated SCH for its paging message. An example implementation is shown in FIG. 9. The system may use a set of SCCHs/SCHs to enable paging for multiple UEs at a given paging occasion.

Paging Acknowledgement/UL Synchronisation

After receiving the paging message from the network, the UE sends a paging acknowledgment message in the uplink (UL). The message may be sent over a contention-based channel (such as a random access channel (RACH)) or an allocated, dedicated access channel.

The paging acknowledgement may be sent separately or combined with a UL synchronisation request message. If the paging acknowledgment is combined with the UL synchronisation request message, the message may contain c-RNTI, which is signalled in the paging message, and a signature sequence which is selected from a set of sequences broadcast in a broadcast channel (BCH), or specified in the applicable communication standard specification (to be used for UL synchronisation), which may be programmed into the UE. The message format is shown in FIG. 10.

In another embodiment, the UE may send the paging acknowledgment and UL synchronisation in separate messages, in which case the paging acknowledgment message only contains the c-RNTI value signalled in the paging message. This may be sent over RACH or over an allocated, dedicated access channel.

After receiving the paging acknowledgment from the UE, the Node B knows the UE location at the cell level. The Node B then establishes a radio connection between the UE and the Node B over a shared channel. The UE uses the c-RNTI and the SCCH index, which are signalled with the paging message to identify the UE and the SCCH, respectively, during shared channel operations. The Node B conveys the paging acknowledgment from the UE to the Core network. This completes the connection between the UE and the network.

SCCH and c-RNTI Management

One way to manage the allocation of c-RNTI and SCCH is to allow the Node Bs to select c-RNTIs and SCCHs. After receiving a paging request from the aGW, the Node B may select an unused c-RNTI and one or a set of SCCHs to be used by the UE, if, e.g., the UE is in the idle state. During idle mode, the UE is not connected to a Node B, but is connected to the core network. The UE is known by its UE identifier (e.g., IMSI or TMSI) at the core network. In some embodiments, the Node B provides a temporary ID to the UE to connect the UE and the base station. After the Node B receives a paging acknowledgement from the UE, the Node B sends the paging acknowledgement to the core network to complete the binding, enabling the core network to know that the UE is within the coverage area of the Node B.

If the paged UE has already been assigned a c-RNTI and a set of SCCHs by the Node B (e.g., the case when the UE is in dormant state), the previously assigned c-RNTI and SCCHs may be used within the paging signal by the Node B. This results in the paging messages broadcast in different cells having different c-RNTIs and SCCHs, as shown in FIG. 11.

Alternatively, the c-RNTI and SCCH may be managed/selected by the aGW in the core network or a separate RRM server. C-RNTI and SCCH may be selected as cell-specific, in which case each Node B sends a paging message including different c-RNTIs and SCCHs affixed to the same initial paging message from the core network or RRM. Alternatively, the paging message may be sent including the same c-RNTI and SCCH in all cells within a tracking area (FIG. 12). In that case, the aGW or RRM may reserve a set of c-RNTIs and SCCHs for use in paging requests.

When the RRM is employed, it takes over the function of assigning c-RNTI and SCCHs. (The aGW, in one embodiment, still sends the paging message.) The RRM server reserves a set of temporary identifiers and SCCHs. The RRM selects, allocates and keeps track of the assignment of temporary identifiers and SCCHs to paging messages. The RRM does not need to know the UE identifier (e.g., IMSI or TMSI).

Network-initiated connection establishment may vary depending on the UE connection states (e.g., idle or dormant states) and the paging cause.

Paging for Idle State UEs

Idle state UEs are not known at the cell level because they are generally not connected to the RAN. Therefore, the UE would not have a c-RNTI or SCCH specified for its use in shared channel operation. However, the level of connection to the network may have two definitions. In one definition, the UE has no connection to the RAN, but it is connected to the core network. The network does not store UE capability or security information regarding Idle mode UEs (this is the definition used for idle mode in conventional systems).

According to the second definition of the idle state, the UE is connected to the core network and has limited connection to the RAN. With this limited connection, however, the UE does not have c-RNTI, SCCH or radio resources allocated. Nevertheless, the UE is registered within the network, in which case the network would have a UE context (such as UE capabilities) stored in the network. Also, the security mode control and authentication procedures have been performed during the UE registration, and the security keys (ciphering, integrity protection) may have been exchanged between the network and the UE. The security keys would be stored in the UE and the network. (This is a possible definition of the idle state that may be used in LTE, i.e., the “long-term evolution” or next generation of the communications standard after UMTS.)

According to the two definitions for idle mode, two alternative network-initiated connection establishment procedures may be implemented.

FIG. 13 depicts the signalling flow involved in network-initiated connection establishment in the case for an Idle mode UE with limited connection to the RAN (possible Idle state definition in LTE).

The paging message indicates with a UE identifier, such as IMSI, which UE has been paged. The paging message may be ciphered and sent (from aGW or other core network element) transparent to the Node B. Paging is broadcast in the cell (by Node Bs) according to the paging procedure described with respect to FIG. 3. After receiving the paging message, the UE sends a paging acknowledgment (with or without UL synchronisation request). The Node B conveys the paging acknowledgment to the aGW. Note that security control or authentication is not necessary as the authentication has already been performed and the security information is stored in the aGW.

When the paging acknowledgment is received by the network, the connection is established between the UE and the network for shared channel operation. The c-RNTI and SCCH index signalled with the paging message is used by the UE as the shared channel IDs.

After sending the paging acknowledgment message, the UE listens to the allocated SCCH (which is signalled with the paging message) for resource allocation on SCH. The aGW issues a Radio Access Bearer (RAB) assignment request to the Node B. The Node B assigns radio resources for the message transmission, and the UE is informed about the allocated resources over SCCH. The timing advance information calculated at the Node B for uplink time synchronisation may also be mapped on to the SCCH. The timing advance information may alternatively be conveyed using a separate physical channel. [Node B computes propagation delay and signals back timing advance information to UE, so that signals from all UEs will be time synchronized at the Node B.]

The Node B sends a radio bearer setup message using the allocated physical resources on DL-SCH (downlink shared channel). The radio bearer setup complete message is sent on UL-SCH (uplink shared channel). Upon receipt of RAB assignment response by the aGW, the data transmission is commenced over the shared channel.

The radio bearer setup/response message may be sent using a logical dedicated control channel (DCCH) mapped onto a shared transport channel (SCH). In that case, a default bearer configuration is used for the message (radio bearer setup/response message) transmission.

In some embodiments, the system may employ a default (or stored) radio bearer configuration (or some part of that configuration) for the data transmission. In this case, the use of default (or stored) configuration information may be signalled within the paging message. If so, only the additional information needed in the case of a radio bearer re-configuration needs to be communicated between the RAN and UE before the data transmission is commenced.

If no UE security or authentication information is kept in the network in the idle state, the security control and authentication may be performed before the radio bearer configuration step. The security control may also be performed over SCH using the allocated c-RNTI as the UE identification over SCH. The resource allocation is communicated over the allocated SCCH.

Paging for Dormant State UEs

In the dormant state, the UE is connected to the network. Thus, it is given a c-RNTI from the Node B with which the UE was last registered. The UE may have gone out of the coverage area of the Node B. Thus the UE is paged in the cells (Node Bs) belonging to the tracking area.

The paging for dormant state UEs is similar to that for idle state UEs described above. However, as the UE has already allocated a c-RNTI, the same c-RNTI may be used with the paging message when the UE is paged in the cell with which it was last registered.

While the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments or figures described. Although embodiments of the present invention are described, in some instances, using UMTS terminology, those skilled in the art will recognize that such terms are also used in a generic sense herein, and that the present invention is not limited to UMTS or 3G systems.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the operations of the various embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or combinations thereof, as appropriate. For example, some processes can be carried out using digital circuitry or processors under the control of software, firmware, or hard-wired logic. (The term “logic” herein refers to fixed hardware, programmable logic and/or an appropriate combination thereof, as would be recognized by one skilled in the art to carry out the recited functions.) Software and firmware can be stored on computer-readable media. Some other processes can be implemented using analog circuitry, as is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

It will be appreciated that, for clarity purposes, the above description has described embodiments of the invention with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, processors or domains may be used without detracting from the invention. For example, functionality illustrated to be performed by separate processors or controllers may be performed by the same processor or controller. Hence, references to specific functional units are only to be seen as references to suitable means for providing the described functionality, rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the claims. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention.

Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also, the inclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply a limitation to this category, but rather the feature may be equally applicable to other claim categories, as appropriate. 

1. A base station for establishing a network-initiated connection with a user equipment over a radio interface in a cellular communication system, the base station comprising: logic for receiving a paging message; logic for sending the paging message and a temporary identifier to at least one cell; logic for receiving a paging acknowledgement from the user equipment (UE) within the at least one cell; and logic for establishing a shared channel connection between the base station and the UE in response to the paging acknowledgement, wherein the temporary identifier identifies the UE on the shared channel.
 2. The base station of claim 1, wherein the logic for receiving the paging message is operable to receive the paging message from a core network.
 3. The base station of claim 1, comprising logic for assigning to the UE a temporary identifier from the base station to which it was last registered in response to the UE being in a dormant state.
 4. The base station of claim 1, wherein the logic for sending is operable to send at least one channel index to at least one shared control channel (SCCH) along with the paging message, the SCCH for communicating control information for the UE during shared channel operation.
 5. The base station of claim 1, comprising logic for signaling to the UE an indication of dedicated access resources to be used by the UE for paging acknowledgement.
 6. The base station of claim 5, wherein the dedicated access resources include a dedicated physical channel.
 7. The base station of claim 5, wherein the dedicated access resources include a dedicated signal sequence to be used on a contention-based channel.
 8. The base station of claim 1, wherein the logic for receiving the paging acknowledgement is operable to for receive the paging acknowledgement over a contention-based uplink channel.
 9. The base station of claim 2, further comprising logic for sending the paging acknowledgment to the core network to establish shared channel communications between the UE and the core network.
 10. The base station of claim 1, wherein the logic for sending is operable to send the paging message using a broadcast channel.
 11. The base station of claim 1, wherein the temporary identifier is cell-specific, the base station further comprising logic for selecting the temporary identifier at the base station.
 12. The base station of claim 11, further comprising logic for selecting the SCCH at the base station.
 13. The base station of claim 1, wherein the logic for receiving the paging acknowledgement comprises logic for synchronizing communication with the UE based upon an uplink synchronization request from the UE.
 14. The base station of claim 13, wherein the uplink synchronization request is part of a paging acknowledgement message.
 15. The base station of claim 2, wherein the temporary identifier is cell-specific, the base station further comprising logic for receiving the temporary identifier from the core network.
 16. The base station of claim 1, wherein the temporary identifier is cell-specific, the base station further comprising logic for receiving the temporary identifier from a resource manager outside the core network.
 17. The base station of claim 15, the base station further comprising logic for receiving the channel index is selected from the core network.
 18. The base station of claim 16, the base station further comprising logic for receiving the channel index from the resource manager.
 19. The base station of claim 1, wherein the temporary identifier is cell-specific.
 20. The base station of claim 2, wherein the temporary identifier is common to a plurality of cells within a registration area, the base station further comprising logic for receiving the temporary identifier from the core network.
 21. The base station of claim 1, wherein the temporary identifier is common to a plurality of cells within a registration area, the base station further comprising logic for receiving the temporary identifier from a resource manager.
 22. The base station of claim 4, wherein the temporary identifier and the SCCH are cell-specific.
 23. The base station of claim 1, wherein the logic for sending comprises logic for: sending at least one paging indicator in a first physical channel, wherein each paging indicator corresponds to at least one UE; and sending the paging message in at least one second physical channel different from the first physical channel, wherein each second physical channel corresponds to at least one UE.
 24. The base station of claim 23, wherein the first physical channel is a paging indicator channel for carrying a plurality of paging indicators, and the second physical channel is a paging channel.
 25. The base station of claim 23, wherein the first physical channel is an SCCH channel, and the second physical channel is a paging channel.
 26. The base station of claim 25, further comprising logic for sending in the SCCH a group identifier identifying a group of UEs to which paging messages are directed.
 27. The base station of claim 23, wherein the first physical channel is an SCCH channel, and the second physical channel is a shared channel.
 28. The base station of claim 27, further comprising logic for: sending in the SCCH a group identifier identifying a group of UEs to which at least one paging message is directed; and sending in the SCCH an indication of resources allocated to the group of UEs for receiving paging messages in the shared channel.
 29. A method for establishing a network-initiated connection between a user equipment and a base station over a radio interface in a cellular communication system, the method comprising, at a base station: receiving a paging message; sending the paging message and a temporary identifier to at least one cell; receiving a paging acknowledgement from the user equipment (UE) within the at least one cell; and in response to the paging acknowledgement, establishing a shared channel connection between the base station and the UE, wherein the temporary identifier identifies the UE on the shared channel.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein receiving the paging message comprises receiving the paging message from a core network.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein, in response to the UE being in a dormant state, the UE is assigned the same temporary identifier it had been assigned from the base station to which it was last registered.
 32. The method of claim 29, wherein sending further comprises sending at least one channel index to at least one shared control channel (SCCH) along with the paging message, the SCCH for communicating control information for the UE during shared channel operation.
 33. The method of claim 29, wherein sending the paging message comprises signaling to the UE an indication of dedicated access resources to be used by the UE for paging acknowledgement.
 34. The method of claim 30, further comprising sending the paging acknowledgment to the core network to establish shared channel communications between the UE and the core network.
 35. The method of claim 29, wherein the temporary identifier is cell-specific, the method further comprising selecting the temporary identifier at the base station.
 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising selecting the SCCH at the base station.
 37. The method of claim 29, further comprising synchronizing communications between the base station and the UE based upon an uplink synchronization request from the UE.
 38. The method of claim 30, wherein the temporary identifier is cell-specific, and the temporary identifier is selected by the core network that sent the paging message.
 39. The method of claim 30, wherein the temporary identifier is common to a plurality of cells within a registration area, and is selected by the core network.
 40. The method of claim 29, wherein sending the paging message comprises: sending at least one paging indicator in a first physical channel, wherein each paging indicator corresponds to at least one UE; and sending the paging message in at least one second physical channel different from the first physical channel, wherein each second physical channel corresponds to at least one UE.
 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first physical channel is a paging indicator channel for carrying a plurality of paging indicators, and the second physical channel is a paging channel.
 42. The method of claim 40, wherein the first physical channel is an SCCH channel, and the second physical channel is a paging channel.
 43. The method of claim 42, further comprising sending in the SCCH a group identifier identifying a group of UEs to which paging messages are directed.
 44. The method of claim 40, wherein the first physical channel is an SCCH channel, and the second physical channel is a shared channel.
 45. A resource manager for establishing a network-initiated connection between a user equipment (UE) and a base station over a radio interface in a cellular communication system, the resource manager comprising: logic for selecting a temporary identifier for the UE; and logic for providing the temporary identifier to the base station for transmission by the base station to the UE along with a paging message, the temporary identifier for identifying the UE during shared channel operation between the UE and the base station.
 46. The resource manager of claim 45, wherein the paging message is provided to the base station by a core network.
 47. The resource manager of claim 45, wherein the resource manager is a radio resource manager outside a core network that provides the paging message to the base station.
 48. The resource manager of claim 45, further comprising logic for: sending a paging message to at least one base station within a registration area, wherein the paging message includes a UE identifier; receiving a paging acknowledgement from a UE associated with the UE identifier via a first base station to establish a shared channel connection between the first base station and the UE.
 49. The resource manager of claim 48, wherein the resource manager is part of the core network that provides the paging message to the base station.
 50. The resource manager of claim 49, wherein the resource manager is an access gateway.
 51. The resource manager of claim 45, further comprising logic for: selecting a channel index to a shared control channel (SCCH); and providing the channel index to the base station for transmission by the base station to the UE along with the paging message and the temporary identifier, the SCCH for communicating control information including the temporary identifier between the UE and the base station during shared channel operation.
 52. The resource manager of claim 51, wherein the temporary identifier and the SCCH are cell-specific.
 53. The resource manager of claim 51, wherein the temporary identifier and the SCCH are common to a plurality of cells within a registration area of the core network.
 54. A method for establishing a network-initiated connection between a user equipment (UE) and a base station over a radio interface in a cellular communication system, the method comprising, at a resource manager: selecting a temporary identifier for the UE; and providing the temporary identifier to the base station for transmission by the base station to the UE along with a paging message, the temporary identifier for identifying the UE during shared channel operation between the UE and the base station.
 55. The method of claim 54, wherein the paging message is provided to the base station by a core network.
 56. The method of claim 54, wherein the resource manager is a radio resource manager outside a core network that provides the paging message to the base station.
 57. The method of claim 54, further comprising: sending a paging message to at least one base station within a registration area, wherein the paging message includes a UE identifier; and receiving a paging acknowledgement from a UE associated with the UE identifier via a first base station to establish a shared channel connection between the first base station and the UE.
 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the resource manager is part of the core network that provides the paging message to the base station.
 59. The method of claim 54, further comprising, at the resource manager: selecting a channel index to a shared control channel (SCCH); and providing the channel index to the base station for transmission by the base station to the UE along with the paging message and the temporary identifier, the SCCH for communicating control information including the temporary identifier between the UE and the base station during shared channel operation.
 60. The method of claim 59, wherein the temporary identifier and the SCCH are cell-specific.
 61. The method of claim 59, wherein the temporary identifier and the SCCH are common to a plurality of cells within a registration area of the core network.
 62. A user equipment (UE) for establishing a network-initiated connection with a base station over a radio interface in a cellular communication system, the UE comprising: logic for receiving from the base station a paging message and a temporary identifier; and logic for sending a paging acknowledgement to the base station to establish a shared channel connection between the base station and the UE, wherein the temporary identifier identifies the UE on the shared channel.
 63. The UE of claim 62, further comprising logic for communicating control information during shared channel operation using a channel index to at least one shared control channel (SCCH) received along with the paging message from the base station.
 64. The UE of claim 62, wherein the logic for receiving is operable to receive an indication of dedicated access resources from the base station, the UE further comprising logic for employing the dedicated access resources for paging acknowledgement.
 65. The UE of claim 62, wherein the temporary identifier is cell-specific.
 66. The UE of claim 62, wherein the logic for sending the paging acknowledgement is operable to send an uplink synchronization request to the base station.
 67. The UE of claim 66, wherein the uplink synchronization request is part of a paging acknowledgement message.
 68. The UE of claim 62, wherein the logic for receiving is operable to: receive at least one paging indicator in a first physical channel, wherein each paging indicator corresponds to at least one UE; and receive the paging message in at least one second physical channel different from the first physical channel, wherein each second physical channel corresponds to at least one UE.
 69. The UE of claim 68, wherein the first physical channel is a paging indicator channel for carrying a plurality of paging indicators, and the second physical channel is a paging channel.
 70. The UE of claim 68, wherein the first physical channel is an SCCH channel, and the second physical channel is a paging channel.
 71. The UE of claim 70, further comprising logic for receiving in the SCCH a group identifier identifying a group of UEs to which the UE belongs.
 72. The UE of claim 68, wherein the first physical channel is an SCCH channel, and the second physical channel is a shared channel.
 73. The UE of claim 72, further comprising logic for: receiving in the SCCH a group identifier identifying a group of UEs to which the UE belongs; and receiving in the SCCH an indication of resources allocated to the group of UEs to which the UE belongs for receiving paging messages in the shared channel.
 74. A method for establishing a network-initiated connection with a base station over a radio interface in a cellular communication system, the UE comprising, at a UE: receiving from the base station a paging message and a temporary identifier; and sending a paging acknowledgement to the base station to establish a shared channel connection between the base station and the UE, wherein the temporary identifier identifies the UE on the shared channel.
 75. The method of claim 74, comprising communicating control information during shared channel operation using a channel index to at least one shared control channel (SCCH) received along with the paging message from the base station.
 76. The method of claim 74, wherein receiving comprises receiving an indication of dedicated access resources from the base station, the method further comprising employing the dedicated access resources for paging acknowledgement.
 77. The method of claim 74, further comprising sending an uplink synchronization request to the base station.
 78. The method of claim 74, wherein receiving comprises: receiving at least one paging indicator in a first physical channel, wherein each paging indicator corresponds to at least one UE; and receiving the paging message in at least one second physical channel different from the first physical channel, wherein each second physical channel corresponds to at least one UE.
 79. The method of claim 78, wherein the first physical channel is a paging indicator channel for carrying a plurality of paging indicators, and the second physical channel is a paging channel.
 80. The method of claim 78, wherein the first physical channel is an SCCH channel, and the second physical channel is a paging channel.
 81. The method of claim 80, further comprising logic for receiving in the SCCH a group identifier identifying a group of UEs to which the UE belongs.
 82. The method of claim 78, wherein the first physical channel is an SCCH channel, and the second physical channel is a shared channel. 